Sean Weatherspoon returns to practice

Posted by Josh Alper on November 6, 2013, 1:04 PM EDT

AP

The Falcons have seen their hopes for the season go up in smoke because of injuries on both sides of the ball, but it looks like they’ll be getting one of those injured players back in the lineup soon.

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon returned to practice on Wednesday, marking his first day back on the field after being placed on injured reserve/return because of a September foot injury. Weatherspoon was eligible to start practicing last week, but didn’t rejoin his teammates until this week.

That delay won’t necessarily leave him on injured reserve any longer than the minimum amount of time, however. Weatherspoon can’t make his return until Week 11 and Jay Adams of the team’s website reports that the linebacker says that he’s already feeling well enough to play.

The Falcons have also been playing without Stephen Nicholas at linebacker, leaving the outside jobs to undrafted rookies Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow. The experience those players have gained should be useful in the future, but getting the injured parties back should do more to help the Falcons defense in the present.